GUARDIAN VERDICT: Warrington Wolves 50 London Broncos 10 (From This Is Cheshire)

GUARDIAN VERDICT: Warrington Wolves 50 London Broncos 10

10:36am Thursday 16th February 2012 in Sport By Christopher Terris Taylor

IT was back to business as usual for Warrington Wolves on Sunday.

After seeing Tony Smith’s men battle for a late draw at Hull on the opening weekend, Sunday’s victory over London Broncos was a welcome return to the form that we have come to expect from the boys in primrose and blue.

Broncos came with a game plan to stifle and frustrate the hosts in the middle of the park, even taking a surprise lead after Michael Witt caught Simon Grix flat-footed on eight minutes.

But regardless of the visitors’ wrestling tactics and referee James Child’s reluctance to speed the game up – to the repeated annoyance of Smith – Broncos could not cope when Wolves spread the play about.

Lee Briers, fresh from his enforced week’s rest, repeatedley had the Broncos defence scrambling, having a hand in four first-half tries before adding two of his own in the final 10 minutes.

Ryan Atkins and Chris Bridge both made their case for the man-of-the-match award, with Atkins’ impressive physicality and raw pace twice leaving Broncos defenders trailing in his wake on the way to the line.

Stefan Ratchford’s star turn at full back arguably topped the lot.

He was accomplished under the high ball, chimed into the line in much the same way as Brett Hodgson did last season and combined superbly with the impressive Rhys Evans for the best try of a good-looking bunch scored by Wolves.

For the last two years Smith has joyfully complained about ‘difficult decisions’ and his squad’s strength in depth, and in Ratchford he looks to have a player who will cause him further dilemmas.

When Hodgson is fit again, will he move Ratchford and, if he does, which of Smith’s regular backs will be sacrificed in order to make room for the new boy?

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INTERESTING NOTES

Wolves have broken the 40 points barrier in each of their last four home games against Broncos.

Ben Westwood’s conversion to Joel Monaghan’s first try took him to 500 points for Warrington.

Wolves have now racked up 12 Super League games without defeat.

Adrian Morley needs one more appearance to rack up 400 in club rugby with Leeds Rhinos, Sydney Roosters, Bradford Bulls and Warrington Wolves.

Sunday’s attendance was almost 400 lower than last season’s equivalent match.

Only four players have made more appearances for Warrington than Lee Briers – Brian Bevan 620, Parry Gordon 543, Mark Forster 458, Jim Tranter 439. Briers is on 380.

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Round 2: February 5, 2012 Warrington Wolves...50 London Broncos...10

Wolves:

Stefan Ratchford; Joel Monaghan, Chris Bridge, Ryan Atkins, Rhys Evans; Lee Briers, Richie Myler; Garreth Carvell, Michael Monaghan, Adrian Morley, Trent Waterhouse, Ben Westwood, Simon Grix. Subs: Ben Harrison, Mike Cooper, Paul Wood, Chris Riley.

Broncos:

Luke Dorn; Michael Robertson, David Howell, Jamie O’Callaghan, Kieran Dixon; Michael Witt, Craig Gower; Antonio Kaufusi, Chad Randall, Mark Bryant, Chris Bailey, Shane Rodney, Tony Clubb. Subs: Chris Melling, Olsi Krasniqi, Julien Rinaldi, Matt Cook.

Scoring:

Witt try, 8mins, Witt goal, 0-6; Bridge try, 14mins, 4-6; J Monaghan try, 23mins, Westwood goal, 10-6; Bridge try, 31mins, Westwood goal, 16-6; Atkins try, 36mins, Westwood goal, 22-6; Robertson try, 40mins, 22-10; J Monaghan try, 44mins, Westwood goal, 28-10; Atkins try, 48mins, 32-10; Ratchford try, 59mins, Westwood goal, 38-10; Briers try, 71mins, Briers goal, 44-10; Briers try, 78mins, Briers goal, 50-10.

Pens:

Wolves 11 Broncos 7

Referee:

James Child

Attendance:

11,118

Top man:

Stefan Ratchford